Palmetto police seek 17-year-old suspect in robbery, shooting spree

Five armed robberies in Palmetto were committed over a four-hour span Wednesday but police reportedly have a suspect. Detectives suspect a 17-year-old Palmetto male committed the crimes, according to a Palmetto Police Department news release.

Two people were injured in the attacks, including a 59-year-old man who was shot in the head. He is expected to recover, according to a news release from the Palmetto Police Department.

The robberies netted the suspect just one wallet, according to the report.

Early Thursday, officers recovered a black SUV police believe was used in the crimes.

“Palmetto police officers and detectives were spread very thin as they responded to back-to-back robberies,” said Deputy Chief Scott Tyler of the Palmetto Police Department.

The chronology of the attacks:

At 12:45 p.m. a gunman approached a 31-year-old man working on his car in the 600 block of 14th Street West and demanded money. A witness reportedly yelled at the robber who fled.

At 2:45 p.m., an assailant pulled a gun on a 40-year-old man in his yard in the 2700 block of 13th Street West and demanded money. The victim pushed the gun away and the robber fled empty-handed

At 3:15 p.m., an assailant pointed his pistol at a woman in the 700 block of 12th Street Drive West and tried to grab her purse. The victim resisted. Her mother ran out to help and the suspect reportedly hit her in the head several times with the pistol before fleeing — again empty-handed. The victim was treated and released at a local hospital.

At 3:20 p.m., the suspect reportedly attempted to rob a 47-year-old man working on a house in the 1200 block of 13th Street West. A second man yelled at the robber who fled. No one was injured and no property was taken.

At 5:15 p.m., a gunman shot a 59-year-old man sitting on a bench reading, took the man’s wallet and fled in the SUV. The victim was taken to Blake Medical Center where he is reportedly in stable condition and expected to recover.